Dealer issue with shifting lag T-SB-0166-10

[mbshaw88]

I bought my '10 Limited last year and have been loving it except for this weird issue where it can't seem to find the right gear between 1st and 2nd during downshifts. It's very noticeable in stop and go traffic when I'm going in and out of 2nd under 20mph. Well a couple days ago I decided to search for "tranny lag" "hesitation" "shifting delay" on this site and holy hell there's a whole thread dedicated to this issue on early run 5th Gens!

I read through the entire thread and MANY people had the exact same issue, basically like the vehicle can't make up its mind between 1st and 2nd when you get back on the throttle.

T-SB 0166-10 to the rescue right?! Called the dealer and scheduled an apt. Told them my exact issue and gave them a printed out copy of this that was on that thread:

Some vehicles may exhibit a harsh shift on acceleration below 20 mph during the 2-1 downshift on vehicles equipped with an A750 transmission. The Engine Control Module/ECM (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) calibration has been revised. Use the following repair procedure to address this condition.
This T-SB applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below:

2WD JTEZU5JR#A5001122
4WD JTEBU5JR#A5002648

This repair is covered under the Toyota Federal Emission Warranty, which is 96 months or 80,000 miles.

My VIN is 000360 so I'm well before the list range.

I get a call and they say they can't reproduce the issue and that they can't do the TSB without seeing it for themselves . I go in to the dealer and they tell me that the TSB not only says the ECU reflash but ALSO to replace the tranny! He explains that he obviously isn't going to warranty a whole transmission without seeing an issue (which makes sense). I was just confused because nowhere in that thread did anyone mention that the TSB calls for a transmission replacement. I couldn't find a pdf of the entire TSB so I can't be certain, but something doesn't seem right.

Anyways I'm going back tomorrow to try and replicate it with the tech in the car. I told him if the tech still doesn't see the issue, I'll just F'n pay the $100+ for the ECU reflash since it would be worth it to fix this!

I'm venting, but also looking for advice on what to do and if anyone has access to the full T-SB pdf.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The ECU reflash most likely will not fix it. My understanding about that is that the ECU Flash is to help prevent premature wear in the transmission that causes the need for replacement AFTER you replace the transmission.

I helped a family member with their 2010 with the same issue a while back.

 

[mbshaw88]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. It's just that my car fits within a very small window of VIN numbers with a shifting map problem from the plant. The people below had the same issue, got the ECU flashed, and it was fixed. The whole thread is exactly what my symptoms are and people posted it worked for them

...I had the same problem as you when slowing down to make a turn and after turning being under 20mph It would shift in the wrong gear a hard shift. They did the TSB and all is well now.

My VIN is ###1072
Since day one, I had the abnormal downshift when making turns while moving slow as well as the hard shift/stutter shift between 1st and 2nd gear. Also, I had the tranny lag where it seems like an eternity for the transmission to determine to downshift - and if I try to force the downshift by pressing harder on the gas, it chooses a very low gear instead of going just one gear lower.

This is what my invoice says:
Customer states: Check for open TSB's for abnormal downshift when making turns.
Tech found an open service bulletin for updating the E.C.M.
Tech performed the open bulletin
EG1010 .6 04/99

After driving for the rest of the day yesterday, the abnormal downshift and stutter shift has completely dissappeared and shifts are smooth. It also feels like I'm getting a little better performance from a stop to start. Very happy with the results. However, the tranny lag is still there. Therefore, my opinion is, the TSB fix will not "create" tranny lag or "fix" tranny lag. I would definitely recommend going to the dealer to have this performed regardless of the tranny lag issue.

Got the TSB done on my TE , what a difference. Much, much better........

I brought mine into the dealer today and had my tranny re-flashed because of the noted TSB...............much better now!! I was in and out in a half hour, the Service Manager told me they were advised of this TSB on 6/29, he also said it would now take about 1000K for the tranny to re-train to our driving habits. Many thanks to the original poster of this matter.

Finally took mine in. I knew that my VIN was affected. I told them about the problem and the TSB. They fixed it. It worked.

It doesn't lag, rev, search, act re****ed, lurch when accelerating from curves or driving at low speeds now.

It will take some time to get used to the lack of lag though because I had become so used to how it was before.

I'm not in Houston but can verify that like many folks in this thread my 4Runner was plagued by not selecting any gear at low speeds for several seconds which I attempted to counteract by using more throttle. This didn't help the transmission find where it should be - it was very annoying and at times it seemed pretty unsafe. When I took it in for its 10k service I asked for the service bulletin referred to in this post. The service manager basically told me I wouldn't get anything done the 'computer' didn't recommend and that the bulletins were supplied by VIN. My VIN was outside the scope of the original bulletin mentioned in the thread (It is a November build) but it still triggered some sort of fix to the technician. My ECU/ECM was re-flashed and honestly, it has made a HUGE difference, the truck drives differently - predictable at low speeds and a little less 'peaky' with the throttle down. It seems like the powerband is a bit more linear/docile - but most importantly the idle/low speed issue is gone. It is still plenty quick though...

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I'd be very weary of doing a re-flash of the ecu for anything unless its guaranteed to fix the problem. Remember, once you flash it, chances are you will not be able to go backwards with another re-flash. Its not a matter of just erasing the last program, but more of flashing back to stock program, and that would scare the crap outta me if they did it and it didn't work, and since you paid to do it against the dealer's recommendation, it falls on you for a new ecu if this screws it up.

Not saying it will or won't fix your issue, just some friendly advice from someone who's dealt with "ecu flashing gone wrong"! I had another car's ecu flashed and ended up having to upgrade to a performance ecu just to get rid of the dealership's flash! It reduced power of that vehicle by retarding the timing too much, and never drove the same until a new ecu was installed. Dealership refused to do anything about it because it was recommended by manufacturer. Your deal is actually worse, that you're overriding their recommendation not to flash.

 

[mbshaw88]

Thanks I'll definitely take that to heart. I guess I didn't think a lot about possibly making the situation worse. The only thing I was worried about is that thread was obviously back in 2010 when the issue was hot and the vehicles getting reflashed had very low mileage. Mine has about 60k and I'm not sure about matching a new ECU with a broken-in engine/trans.